The NFL and the NFL Players Association have come to an agreement on how to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, and NFL training camps have opened up across the country, including in Tampa Bay. PewterReport.com offers up its analysis of each position on the Buccaneers as new quarterback Tom Brady and his teammates prepare for the 2020 season.

OL Room

LT Donovan Smith | Age: 27 | NFL Exp.: 6th season | 6-6, 338
LG Ali Marpet | Age: 27 | NFL Exp.: 6th season | 6-4, 307
C Ryan Jensen | Age: 29 | NFL Exp.: 7th season | 6-4, 319
RG Alex Cappa | Age: 25 | NFL Exp.: 3rd season | 6-6, 305
RT Tristan Wirfs | Age: 21 | NFL Exp.: Rookie | 6-5, 320
OT/OG Joe Haeg | Age: 27 | NFL Exp.: 5th season | 6-6, 298
OT Josh Wells | Age: 29 | NFL Exp.: 6th season | 6-6, 306
C Anthony Fabiano | Age: 27 | NFL Exp.: 5th season | 6-4, 303
C Zach Shackleford | Age: 23 | NFL Exp.: Rookie | 6-4, 305
OG/C Zack Bailey | Age: 24 | NFL Exp.: 2nd season | 6-5, 310
OG Nick Leverett | Age: 23 | NFL Exp.: Rookie | 6-4, 310
OG John Molchon | Age: 23 | NFL Exp.: Rookie | 6-5, 309
OG Aaron Stinnie | Age: 26 | NFL Exp.: 3rd season | 6-3, 312

The Skinny

It’s the best Bucs offensive line we’ve seen in some time, at least on paper. Left tackle Donovan Smith is coming off the best season of his career after a bumpy start to the 2019 campaign, attempting to make the Bucs look good for the big contract they gave him last offseason. There will likely always be ups and downs with Smith, but he should be entering the prime of his career in 2020.

Bucs LT Donovan Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Next to Smith is the crown jewel of the Bucs offensive line, left guard Ali Marpet. The Hobart graduate is one of three non-DI players on the Bucs starting offensive line, and one of the best guards in the NFL. He’ll be flanked by center Ryan Jensen for the third straight year, as the veteran pivot comes off the finest season of his career.

The strength of the Bucs offensive line is undoubtedly on the interior, but right guard Alex Cappa remains a question mark. He took a big step forward in 2019, to a league average player from a struggling rookie in 2018. Is there more room to grow? Cappa has the talent to become a good starter, but heading into 2020 it’s still fair to consider him the weak link of a strong starting five.

Nobody expected Tristan Wirfs to be there at No. 13 when the Bucs traded up one spot with the 49ers to land the star tackle from Iowa. Wirfs played his best collegiate football on the right side, which is where he should step into the starting lineup for the Bucs in 2020.

Wirfs’ camp competition will likely be with newcomer Joe Haeg, a utility offensive lineman brought over from Indianapolis this offseason. Haeg has already had a solid career as a backup/spot starter, and his real value lies in the fact that he has legitimate playing time and decent results at every offensive line spot except for center. In the event of an injury, Haeg figures to be the first alternate at either guard spot and at right tackle, in the event of an injury.

The last of the roster locks is offensive tackle Josh Wells, who should back up Smith on the left side once again this year. Wells saw time at both tackle spots last year and struggled mightily, surrendering three sacks and 14 pressures while getting flagged four times in just over 200 snaps per Pro Football Focus. Tampa Bay should seriously consider letting Haeg be the first alternate at both tackle spots.

After that, the final two OL spots are anyone’s guess. Of the three rookies, Molchon is probably the one the Bucs front office was most excited about after the draft, although Shackleford’s background as a center could help him on a team with no obvious backup at the position. Rice graduate Nick Leverett is a long shot.

Of the veterans, second-year guard Zack Bailey is the only one who was with the team last offseason, and he’s bumped his weight up to about 310 pounds while putting in offseason work as a center. If Bailey’s versatility is an asset in camp, he’d be my guess to earn one of the last two spots on the Bucs offensive line, along with Molchon. Bailey played left guard, right tackle and center in college, and has spent most of his offseason training at right guard, where the Bucs biggest question mark exists on their starting offensive line.

Bucs G Zach Bailey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Anthony Fabiano has bounced around the league for five years now, but hasn’t seen the field in an NFL game since 2017 as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. Fabiano has spent time with eight different teams since 2016, and has over 150 snaps at center in his career, the only position he’s played in an NFL game.

Aaron Stinnie probably has the upper hand on Fabiano based on the fact that he was claimed off waivers by the Bucs last November. Stinnie got two snaps last season, both at right guard on passing plays, and gave up a pressure on one of them, per Pro Football Focus.

Camp Battle To Watch: Wirfs vs. Haeg

I know, I know, everyone expects Wirfs to start by the time Week 1 rolls around, and certainly the smart money is on the rookie. However, I highly doubt that Bruce Arians is just going to hand a rookie the starting job, especially with the lack of on-field reps Wirfs (and all rookies) have had this offseason.

Haeg may have the early leg up on the right tackle job just because of his experience, while Wirfs will be playing catch up during training camp, with no preseason games to get acclimated either. I still believe that Wirfs’ talent will win out by the time the Bucs travel to New Orleans for Week 1, but this is definitely the offensive line battle to watch throughout training camp.

The Sleeper: Molchon

I knocked out a film review on Molchon this offseason, and to be honest he didn’t really impress me. He’s not overly physical, and gets pushed around in the run game too often for my liking. However, Molchon’s work in pass protection is promising, and he’d likely be in a developmental role only on the Bucs roster. His smarts and experience playing all over the offensive line should help him pick up the playbook quickly.

PewterReport.com’s Scott Reynolds interviewed Bucs director of player personnel John Spytek and director of college scouting Mike Biehl directly following the draft in April, and the Bucs front office had a draftable grade on the Boise State guard.

Bucs G John Molchon – Photo courtesy of Boise State

“The Boise State kid, you put on the tape and everyone is watching Ezra Cleveland, and you see this other kid that has played all the spots,” Spytek said. “He’s played tackle, he’s played guard and he’s played center. We kind of made him a priority and stayed on him as free agency got going. It got a little competitive and we were willing to do a little bit to get him. We were excited to add him to that room, and he’s tough-minded, smart and versatile. We’re not going to ask him to play tackle, but he’s bounced all over the place because he’s smart enough to do it. You want as many guys as you can that can play guard and center. It makes game day easier for planning purposes. We were excited to get him.”

Getting Molchon was like getting an extra draft pick because he was a highly rated Day 3 guy by the Bucs.

“Molchon from Boise – we liked his versatility,” Biehl said. “He’s a guy that got a little banged up and had some injuries this year. I think we’re pretty fortunate to get him as an undrafted free agent. We thought he was definitely a draftable guy and we’re fortunate it worked out that way. He’s got a lot of intangible things you look for in an offensive lineman, such as smarts and toughness and he’s kind of gritty. He’s a decent athlete, too. We like his versatility and think he can play multiple spots. We’re anxious to get him in and we think he’ll fit in well with our O-line room. He’s more of a guard-center, but he’s played some tackle too, which doesn’t hurt.”